Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start on the pole in a Chevy alongside Carl Edwards' Ford.

It was the circuit's first postponement since last year's season-opening Daytona 500. The marquee event ran the following night for the first time in its history.

Sunday's rescheduling creates the first day Cup race for the 1.5-mile oval after two events at night.

Showers were forecast all day around the state, which arrived around mid-afternoon with a heavy downpour followed by sporadic rain. NASCAR delayed the start and held out hope for a late start with jet driers on the track, but another band of rain led officials to postpone the race just after 9 p.m.